Friday, November 04, 2022
The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) along with key Crowne Plaza Resort management and Tan Holdings Corporation had the pleasure of hosting the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 31. After 19 months of renovations, the newest Crown Plaza Resort opened its doors in the Marianas to welcome guests from around the world. As the resort’s general manager, I can say with certainty that my team and I were humbled by the support we received that night from guests who joined us, many of whom have known us for the past 18 years as the former Fiesta Resort.
As part of one of the world's largest hotel groups, IHG offers the Marianas a unique opportunity to enter new markets and increase its share of existing markets by leveraging IHG's global sales network and distribution channels. As an international brand, Crowne Plaza supports the growth of the CNMI as a destination by providing confidence to visitors looking for a branded experience, which is especially important to visitors who may be new to the destination.
To better promote the Marianas as a destination, IHG offers a global loyalty program called IHG One Rewards, which has more than 100 million members, another fantastic avenue for exposure for the Marianas. With strong support from our IHG Regional offices and sister Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts in key markets, we are optimistic about contributing to the CNMI’s economic growth and being a strong industry partner.
Our industry has been through incredibly difficult times, and as we continue on the journey to recovery, it’s important that all CNMI tourism partners work closely with the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) to articulate a clear message to our markets. We are optimistic about CNMI’s tourism future for the next five years and are committed to supporting the growth of the CNMI as a destination. We will do this by tapping into new markets and enhancing the overall visitor experience by offering a premier product in a completely refurbished property.
Tourism is critical to the livelihood of thousands both directly and indirectly through local businesses, restaurants, retail, hotels, airlines, government and so much more. This makes our work all the more important. Being successful means, we can continue to support local jobs. When our destination and businesses are successful, so are our people.
A lot of the work we do behind the scenes includes offering a great visitor experience to attract new visitors and keep them coming back. The CNMI is seen as a safe and friendly destination. The local community is welcoming and hospitable, and it’s important that we continue to provide a warm and friendly environment where visitors feel safe.
Everyone is responsible for maintaining safe practices, and this needs to remain a top priority. I strongly encourage our businesses, agencies, and community members to participate in beautification efforts to keep the Marianas a clean destination. We should also find new opportunities for our guests to experience the unique cultures that make up the islands.
We greatly admire the Tan family for their commitment to Saipan's hospitality industry and the future of tourism in the Marianas. We thank the Tan Family, the Torres administration, and the Department of Public Lands for welcoming IHG to the Marianas.
Congratulations to the InterContinental Hotels Group on the opening of the first Crowne Plaza Resort in Micronesia, which joins more than 400 Crowne Plaza hotels and resorts in gateway cities and the 6,000 IHG hotels worldwide!
We invite residents of the Marianas to get to know us better. Join us for Sunday Brunch at the Terrace or take advantage of special resident package offers. We are ready to assist you. Please call our reservations line at 670-234-6412.
The Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan team is proud to be a part of this community, and we are committed to making the Marianas a better place to live and visit. Together, We Can!
For more information, visit the GCEA website at cnmieconomy.com. Engage with the Council on Facebook and Instagram (@cnmigov.economy) or contact them at gceacnmi@gmail.com.
By Robert Coates
Starting his career with the InterContinental Hotels Group in 2000, Robert has successfully led operations across a number of IHG properties past and present in Australia and New Zealand. Last year, Robert joined the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan team as the general manager and has led the opening project team since.
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